Description
Object description
British civilian fitter and inspector with English Electric Coy Ltd, British Aircraft Company and British Aerospace in GB, Germany and Saudi Arabia, 1960-1990
Content description
REEL 1 Background in, GB, 1932-1960: family; move of family from Woolwich, London to Kirby, Liverpool, 1943; invaliding out of service with Royal Navy; apprenticeship as car mechanic. Recollections of period as fitter and inspector with English Electric Coy Ltd and British Aircraft Corporation at Warton, GB, 1960-1990: pay in the aircraft industry at Warton; work as general fitter; problems maintaining English Electric Lightning; design of the English Electric Lightning; impressions of English Electric Lightning; working at Warton; description of English Electric Lightning; operating aircraft from Warton; relations with pilots; tools and method of work; time pressure to flight test aircraft; problems with undercarriage on BAC TSR-2 at Boscombe Down; problems with instability of BAC TSR-2 engines; cancellation of BAC TSR-2 project; salvage of items after cancellation of BAC TSR-2 project; work on Panavia Tornado in GB and Germany.
REEL 2 Continues: relations with German staff; contrast between British and German fitters; work on hydraulic system on Panavia Tornado; American method of working on aircraft; effects on company relations after working with German and Italians; trade testing for contract to work on English Electric Lightnings in Saudi Arabia; character of Saudi Arabian Air Force; relations with Saudi Arabians; working conditions; problems with English Electric Lightning operating in Saudi Arabia; attitude to working in Saudi Arabia; obtaining alcohol; background to becoming inspector; role of inspectors; common problems found during inspections; problems with backend fires on English Electric Lightning.
REEL 3 Continues: incident when fitter placed rivets wrongly on Panavia Tornado; inspecting snags; clothing worn; inspecting ejector seats; items dropped in cockpits; changes in aircraft cockpits; involvement with Heritage Group after retirement in 1990.